The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-04
LATEST FROM THE CAPITAL
Report of the Utah Commission on
Affairs Of that Territory.
The Government Will Not Interfere Against
Germany in the Samoan Islands-Lieut.
Weber. of the Signal Service. Acquitted.
THE MORMON HIERARCHY.

Mormon statistics- Operations of the Ed
nunds Act in Utah.
WASHINGTON, Oct. sc. L. Godfrey, A. B.
Williams, and Arthur L. Thomas. constituting
majority of the Utah commission. have filed
with the Secretary of the Interior the annual re-
port of the commission the affairs of that
Territory. A memorandum at the close of the
document states that Commissioners Carlton
and McClernand. dissenting from many of the
views expressed therein, do not sign the report
The population of the Territory is estimated at
200, 600. gain of nearly 5000 since 1880. The
valution of the property assessed in the Sow
eral counties of the Territory is given
$35 Cos. S02 The prosperity OF
the past years. says the report has been
equal to that of any former period in the history
of the Territory. On April of the present year
the total Mormon population In the Territories
of Utah, Idaho. Arizona. Wyoming and New
Mexico and the States of Nevada and Colorado,
was 162. 1888, officially classed as follows: Three
first president. IL apostles, 65 patriarchs. 6,444
seventies. 723 high priests. II All elders. 2423
priests. 2, 497 teachers, 6,S40 deacons, 81, 283
members, and DC. $50 children under eight years
of age, The total church population of Utah
was 1872 297 The tithin gs for 1880 was $40. 900.
The strength of the non Mormon element Is
estimated at 80. 600. This element now owns of
assessed
one-thrd. exclusive of railroad property. The
different religious denominations have now In
Utah 60 churches. These churches have estab-
lished and control 81 schools, with an aggregate
of 66S pupils aud $50 teachers
Since the passage of the Edmunds law in
1882, $40 persons ave been indicted for unlaw-
habtation. and 289 OF these were con-
vcted. The number convicted of polcgamy
were fourteen. Many of the persons indicted
have fed to escape arrest. In the enforcement
of the law, the report says, the officers of the
federal courts in Utah entitled to special
commentator. The national laws relating to
bigamy and polygamy have been In effective
operation for about three years. The Mormon
leaders and their obedient followers have made
no concession to it's supremacy. and the issue Is
squareiy maintained between assumed relations
and the laws of the land
The report then cites the already published re-
suits of the election under the registry law on
the LIST of August last, and OF the convention In
June and the subsequent election participated
IN by Mormons only. in which constitution
adopted with a view to application to Con-
gress for admission State The commission
regards this State movement as an effort to free
the Mormon Church from the tolls which the
firm attitude of the government and the ener-
getic course of the federal officers have thrown
around it. and opposes its consummatioa.
During the past year the names of sixty-seven
men have been reported to the commission as
having entered into polygamy The commits
sion renews it's recommendations of last year.
except such were enacted into laws at the
last session of Congress. The commission also
recommends that authority be conferred upon
the Governor of the Territory to appoint the
following county officers: Selectmen. clerks. as
SCISSORS. recorders and superin tendents
of district schools. In conclusion
the commission submits that in
its opinion the results which have followed
from the passage of the EdmunGs act have been
very beneficial to the Territory. 1t has pro-
vided fair, honest and orderly system OF cleo
lions, and it is universally conceded by Mormons
and non Mormons that there has been no charge,
nor even run.or of fraud. in connection with the
registration of votes and the conduct of elections
since the commission first commenced its work.